Mutec

bencat

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Having just bought a used Mutec 3+ USB off eBay I thought there might be a thread for this company but it does not seem so . So thought I would start one as I know there a number on here and also on other forums not to mention glowing reviews about these units and effect they have on the sound of a digital chain . I already have a much more humble unit by Audio GD which i have been using for about a month and I have to say in isolation the uplift in sound quality is very much of the thumbs up variety . I have heard a Mutec in a system at a DAC off by Ian and it was doing a very decent job there .

I had wanted one but at over £1100 new and in most cases £800 + used they were out of my comfort zone fr current spending . I paid quite a but less for the one in it way to me now and provided it is fully working and good condition then I am happy with the price and know for certain that I can move it on for a profit or at the very least the same price.

So will add my thoughts both for a direct comparison with the Audio GD and used in different parts of the digital chain . Any other owners views or advice is always welcome .
 

bencat

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Well my memory has not always been poor but it has over recent years become worse and despite my good intentions this has not be followed up .

Firstly and briefly the Mutec 3+ is different to the GD Audio both in what it does and how it does it . Thye are made and aimed at very different sectors the GD is Hi Fi home audio based . The Mutec is aimed at professional studio use . For some reason this means they sound different as well even though both are trying to do the same thing. The GD Audio has a more definite sound in that I think it adds a little bit of euphony to the end result that seems to be an artifact and not in the original . Having said that i love what it does and what it adds and for me at least it stays .

Now the Mutec is quite different it is what many hope all items are transparent to the original not adding anything but I do think it removes things , good things like back ground electrical hash and noise . I think that this may well be dependant on how it is used and the implementation of the equipment it is between . If you use the USB connection then if the source and the DAC have very well engineered USB connection then I think the uplift in using the Mutec will be either minimal or possibly even worse (possibly just by adding another link in the chain) . I only in my limited experience do not like USB as an audio connection in the music chain , I know your going to say it just carrys digital information files not music but the end result using USB that I have has had issues in the final result and everything points to the USB connection .
On the Mutec if you use XLR or BNC as the input then its properties and the musical benefits are pretty easy to hear and identify . If you break the USB connection with a DDC or SPDIF converter then that also shows the benefits but not if connected directly .

So the Mutec will be staying and is now an essential part of my system . However due to prodding by @Lurch mine is being or rather has been altered . I have sent my Mutec to have the factory fitted SMPS power supply removed along with the mains input plug and a 2.5mm plug fitted instead with connection direct to the circuit board . I will then be able to plug in a 5 V LPSU and give the Mutec what i think is the best opportunity to shine . It will be back next week and then the fun begins of listening and seeing what improvements if any this has brought .
 

bencat

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Right just a little up date and few statements that will no doubt irritate some . Firstly I am now fully convinced and sure that if you use the internal SMPS fitted to the Mutec you are missing out on around 60% of its ability to make digital music better and more musical . No I have not got that wrong , either if you can get the SMPS removed and replaced with a decent quality internal LPSU . If that is not something you can get done then like me have the SMPS removed and a 2.5 barrel socket put in . You can then plug in any stand alone 5 v LPSU from a humble one from China to as exotic as you want to go . I have currently got an SBooster on mine and it sounds so good it hurts . Whatever the Mutec does it does well and in my system it makes a very large difference . That difference is then magnified by adding and LPSU .
 

bencat

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Okay I know this is hard to take but there is yet another up date to be made this concerns adding the mk2 booster little box to the connection . Now best practice and wisdom says more connections and breaks is a bad thing . I finish did find that the removal of one unit from my normal chain did have
a beneficial effect on the music .

So this should have been an easy put in play for a bit and then either notice no difference or a drop in quality and make said comment . Well no that is not what happened . Now adding in the Mk2 thingy means you have to increase the voltage output up from 5v to 6v and handily there is a little switch on the side to do this . Played a song in full without then did the switch added in the Mk2 and played the same song again . Was there any difference well yes there was and it was better not worse not easy to describe easily what it adds but I would say relaxation is best I can come up with . Everything seems less hurried an more open sound stage which has gained a bit of extra width and depth as if they is more space around the speakers . I know all of this sounds a bit mad and I could well be getting old and even more senile but it works and sounds great so frankly my dear I could not give a damn (one for the youngsters there ) . Bad news for me as it looks like I am going to have to buy this little doodah as well as the SBooster John will be laughing his head off .... Wonder if I can get a discount , or mates rates ? Nah this is John were talking about .
 

bencat

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Well I have owned my Mutec for quite a while and enjoyed very much what it does in its standard form . However this unit opened up a rabbit hole complete with white rabbit . I had to follow it . First thing was the addition of an external word clock , heard a £6000 Denafrips connected in some ones system and was really shocked at the difference in sound quality . But sadly way too expensive for me to consider . Then some advice from Tony at Coherent Systems to take a look at a GPS stand alone clock from Leo Bodnar not as good but around 90% of the sound quality uplift for £170 delivered . No brainer bought set up and a grin a mile wide at the music it lets get out of my system . Tony then showed some screen grabs of measurements of what a Mutec liked like after he had upgraded it internally . First time the measurements made sense and just looked right and better . So dropped my Mutec off to Tony at the Northwest Show and it arrived back today . There is not much to say except wow . Music is just better more realistic , soundstage are wider and deeper and voices sound like the real people they are singing . You hear the added things like reverb and echo but they seem to make sense . Everything feels less rushed which is not something I have ever noticed before but things sort of just occur in a controlled way . I know this is gushing but I just love what I am hearing details , inflections , harmonies ,double tracked voices that I have never noticed before . Very happy with this sound . I will be adding the upgraded Mutec and LB clock to my system at the Wam Show so will be fun seeing what it does to a very different system .
 
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